Ratchet mechanism



T. J. FEGLEY ET AL Jan, 13. 1925 I RATCHET MECHANI SM Filed March 6,I923 /5. My? 0 W..\/ 6 C l Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

THOMAS J. FEGLEY AND GEORGE O. LEOPOLD, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNORS TO NORTH BROS. MFG. CO., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed March 6, 1923. Serial No. 623,163.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. Fnsnnr and Gnonen O. Lnoronn, citizens ofthe United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain Improvements in Ratchet Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in the construction ofratchet mechanism'that is used particularly in hand tools, such asbraces; screw drivers; drills, &o. The present invention is especiallyadapted for hand braces.

The object of the invention is to strengthen and to simplify theconstruction of the ratchet mechanism, and also to design it so that thevpawls can be shifted readily to change the direction of movement of thetool mounted in the brace.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a brace illustrating ourinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the portion of the braceenclosing the ratchet mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 41-4 Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views illustrating details of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the lower member of an ordinary handbrace. This member extends into an opening in a projection 2 of a head3, which encloses the ratchet mechanism, and is secured to theprojection by a transverse pin 4.. The head 3 has a threaded extension 5at the upper end to receive the threaded cap 6. The head also has athreaded extension 7 at the lower end to receive the threaded portion ofa sleeve 8, in which is located the body portion 9 of a chuck that holdsthe tool.

Located in the head 3 is a spindle 10, which has a series of ratchetteeth 11 formed as shown in Fig. 3. The reduced lower end 12 of thespindle 10 is secured to the body portion 9 of the chuck by a pin 13.The spindle 10 has a groove 14 into which extends a key 15. This keylocks the spindle in the head and is held in place by the sleeve 8, asshown in Fig. 2. The spindle is held between the key 15 and the cap 6.

The head 3 is slotted at 16 to receive the pawls 17 and 18, Fig. 5. Theslot has lateral extensions to receive the pivot members 19 and 20 ofthe said pawls. The pawls are made in the manner clearly shown in Fig.5, so that the parts of the pawl that engage the ratchet teeth 11 willbe opposite each other.

21 designates a shifter made of spring metal and bent at each end, asshown in Figs. 2 and 6. The ends rest upon the pawls and there issufiicient clearance under the shifter to allow either pawl to be tiltedclear of the ratchet teeth when the shifter is moved into either extremeposition. 011 the shifter is a pin 22, which extends into an opening ina shifter bar 23, adapted to slide in the projection 2 of the head 3.This bar has three notches 24 arranged so as to receive the plunger 25that is located in the end of the member 1, as shown in Fig. 3. Back ofthis plunger is a spring 26, which tends to project the plunger and tokeep it in yielding contact with the shifter bar.

In the present instance, the outer end of the plunger is tapered and thenotches are shaped so that, with force, the bar can be shifted into anyone of the three positions. The central position is neutral, both pawlsbeing locked to the spindle. hen the pin is in the upper notch, the b'aris in the right hand position, and, when in the lower notch, it is inthe left hand position. The ends of the shitter bar projectsul'liciently to allow the bar to be moved into any one of the threepositions.

In order to make any repairs, all that is necessary is to detach thesleeve 8 and to remove the key 15. This allows the spindle to bewithdrawn from the head. The cap 6 can be removed and the shifter andpawls can be withdrawn. The parts can be readily assembled.

We claim:

1. The combination in ratchet mechanism, of a head; a spindle located inthe head and having ratchet teeth in its periphery; a key engaging thespindle and acting to retain said spindle in the head; two pawls at theside of the spindle shaped to engage the ratchet teeth; a yieldingshifter bearing upon the pawls; and a shifter rod arranged parallel withthe spindle and adapted to bearings in the head, said shifter bar beingconnected to the shifter.

2. The combination in ratchet mechanism,

of a head; said head having a screw thread at each end and a lateralextension; a spindle having ratchet teeth located in the head; athreaded sleeve at one end of the head; a threaded cap at the oppositeend thereof; means for holding the spindle in the head; pawls arrangedto engage the ratchet teeth; a shifter for said pawls; and a shifter barmounted in the extension of the head and connected to the shifter,

3. The combination in ratchet mechanism, of a head having a lateralextension; a spindle mounted in the head, said spindle having ratchetteeth and also having a reduced end; a body portion; a pin securing thesaid body portion to the reduced end of the spindle; a key holding thespindle in the head; a sleeve secured to the head and enclosing the pinand the key; pawls arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the spindle;and means for shifting the pawls. 4:. The combination in ratchetmechanism, of a head having a lateral extension; a spindle located inthe head and having ratchet teeth on its periphery, the he'ad beingthreaded at each end; a cap mounted on one of the threaded ends toprevent the longitudinal movement of the spindle in one direction; asleeve mounted on the other 30 threaded end of the head; a key in thehead,

which prevents the spindle moving in the shifter bar in the position inwhich it is adjusted.

5. The combination in ratchet mechanism, of a head having a lateralextension; a cap secured to one end of the head; a sleeve secured to theopposite end of the head; a

spindle located in the head, said spindle having a series of ratchetteeth, one end of the spindle being reduced; a body portion secured tothe reduced portion of the spindle and extending into the sleeve; a keysecuring the spindle in position; pawls pivotally i mounted in the head;a spring shifter resting on the pawls; a pin extending from the shifter;a bar having an opening for the shifter pin, said bar having a series ofnotches; and a spring-pressed plunger ar-' ranged to enter anyone ofthe' notches as the bar is shifted. i

THOMAS J. FEGLEY. GEORGE Q. LEOPOLD!

